Chapter 5
Clarke
My dad’s going out hunting today so I get to spend the whole day hanging out with Lexa. Over this past month Lexa and I have become the best of friends. I've been telling Lexa about my life on the Ark, I've been telling her about all my friends and what space looks like.
Lexa asked me about food on the Ark, because once the first day or two we were here I moaned the first time I ate deer meat. I told her everything was made in a lab an that it tasted like metal, and she told me that she could never live like that, and I'm glad I don't have to anymore.
I wake up hearing Anya yell for my dad to hurry up so they can hunt, and I know that I'm going to have to get up, and get washed and dressed in a few minutes. After hearing my dad shut the door and leave I burrow under my covers for a few more minutes, and being so warm and not used to heat while living in space I can't stop myself from falling into a deep sleep.
//
I wake up from a very good sleep by hearing a voice yelling and someone banging on the front door. “Get up Clarke! We have so much stuff to do so get up.” I hear Lexa yell, she usually doesn't wake me up unless I've slept in for an extra hour or two so Anya doesn't yell at me for being late. So not wanting Lexa to be mad at me for wasting time I stretch and get up.
“Come on in Lexa” I say and search through my trunk at the foot of my bed for some clothes, as I hear Lexa open my front door and walk in. I grab some casual clothes, just a tan tunic, and black leggings with my waist length coat Lexa gave me. I slip it on and walk out of my room, and almost run into Lexa when I open my bedroom door. “Hey Lexa what do you want to do today, since we have the whole day off.” I ask
Lexa looks at me and grins a very wide smile “We're gonna go hunting today, so you can get better with your stealth.” Before I can even get a word out to agree or disagree with her plans, she grabs my hand and drags me out of the house.
“My dad and Anya are already going out hunting, what if we ruin their trip by making to much noise, or running into them?” I question and I must have had a puzzled look on my face, because she sighs very dramatically before stopping in her tracks.
"We are going to stay close to the village, to close to be near their hunting spot but far away enough so we can still be in the forest full.” She explains slowly like I'm just a kid, even if I am, but she's the same age as I am. She tells me to follow her as we make our way out of the village to do some stealth training.
//
“It's not my fault I don't know how to avoid the stupid leaves and branches on the ground. Stop saying I stomp around like I'm a baby pauna, only Anya’s allowed to say that to me!” I am getting really angry at Lexa right about now, this day was supposed to be fun not Lexa acting like I'm her seken.
“I wouldn't say you sound like a baby pauna if you would stop kicking every rock, stick, or nut in front of you. Come on Skai Prisa I know you can do it.” Lexa says while shoving my shoulder slightly so I know she's trying to make our day as fun as she knows how.
“I need something to call you instead of Lexa since you calling me Skai Prisa.” I say and Lexa pales a few shades. “What's with the face Lexa if you get to call me Skai Prisa I should get to call you something as well.”
“Oh no Clarke you don't need to give me a different name I like this one just fine. Besides Clarke every knows you as the Skai Prisa so it's okay for you to have that name, and everybody knows me as Lexa so um.. it would be pointless to change it now.” Lexa says so fast I could barely make out every word she said.
“I guess we can keep your name the same.” I say like it’s the craziest thing in the world not to want to have a new name. I look down to make sure I'm not stepping on any leaves or sticks because I thought I heard something. Lexa grabs me very quickly on my shoulder, and I turn to look at her we I'm about to yell at her I hear a very loud growling.
“Clarke we need to slowly back away and run but home as fast as…AHH” A giant panther comes out of the bushes and leaps at Lexa. I don't know what it is, but I just get so angry it feels like all of my bones are cracking, and breaking. I drop down on my hands and knees and then I just feel fine, but when I look at my hands all I see are paws. Oh my god I turned into an animal.
Oh I need to help Lexa, so I turn and start to growl at the panther. It lets go of Lexa and turns toward me an starts to stalk forward. I run forward and jump on it and claw at its face and legs. Me and the panther are in a wresting match of just hisses and scratches, until I claw its throat and it dies the life fading from its eyes.
Lexa who was frozen for that minute finally gets out of her shock and walks over to me an pets me. I start to purr at her scratching my ears, and I almost whimper at the list of contact when she pulls her hand away. “Clarke you need to calm down to turn back okay. I'm safe, I'm right here with you.” Lexa keeps repeating that mantra until I feel my fingers and toes again, which most likely means I'm human again.
I stand up and grab my coat off the ground and put it on since it’s the only thing salvageable left from my clothes. “Why didn't you tell me your spirit animal was a panther Clarke?” Lexa asks me
“What are you talking about I turn into a fox.”
“No Clarke you were a white panther.” Lexa says back at me
“Is there anyway that I could turn into both.” I question
“There is a legend that there was a person who could turn into whatever animal that was needed at the time, but there was only ever on a few decades ago.” Lexa says to me with what can only be described as awe in her eyes.
“I don't want to be some super magical person. No your wrong, once we get back to camp we’ll talk to Anya and she can figure this all out.” I say finishing the discussion for now. So Lexa just nods her head, and we pick up all of our stuff and drag the panther with us to make our trek back to camp.